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Township Board discusses drought management plan, naming of public property in The Woodlands

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The Woodlands Township Board of Directors held a regular meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2023. The Board discussed a variety of topics including previous Incorporation Study expenses, the drought management plan, the 2023 Budget Calendar, the policy for naming public property in The Woodlands, a process for the Village Presidents’ Council and more.

On the Regular Agenda, the Board received a report from President/CEO Monique Sharp regarding the Township’s expenditures related to the most recent Incorporation Planning Study. The study was initiated in 2018, by the previous Board of Directors, with final reports concluding in 2021. The total spent relating to the study was $1,561,145 and included consulting services, legal services, education/communications, and two public forums.  View the Incorporation Costs View the Incorporation Expenses Presentation

The Board discussed the drought management plan, focusing on concerns regarding water levels in lakes and ponds in The Woodlands. Historically, the Township has utilized a conservation approach, not filling ponds with potable during times of drought unless the health of aquatic organisms and flora is endangered. In response to a recent Board request, Township staff proposed a concept which would extend a 4-inch line from the Lake Paloma pump system that could be used to supply both Kayak Ridge and Hullwood Park Ponds, as they were identified as ponds with limited ability to re-charge. The Board voted to approve the $65,000 expenditure using surface water from Lake Paloma to charge the two ponds, at the discretion of the Township when environmental conditions  warrant  View the Pond Fill Presentation.

The Board received an update from Chief Operating Officer Chris Nunes regarding the unauthorized use of water at Cokeberry Pond in December 2022. During a regular inspection, Township staff identified that there had been 10 days of unauthorized use of water from Cokeberry Pond using the unsecured water well valve, at a total of 740,850 gallons. The matter is under investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Since that time, all water wells and pond fill lines have been secured with locks or tamper-resistant hardware.  View the Unauthorized Use of Water Presentation.

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The Board also reviewed the policy for the naming of public property owned by The Woodlands Township. The current policy was established by a previous Board in 2016. The purpose of the Board policy is to establish a systematic and consistent approach to the official naming of parks and recreational areas and facilities. The policy aims to ensure that names given to parks, recreational areas and facilities are consistent with the values and character of the area or neighborhood served, as well as help easily identify and locate these facilities. 

The Board also discussed a process for the Village Presidents’ Council, which has been proposed to encourage village association collaboration and communication. Chairman Dr. Ann K. Snyder and Treasurer Richard Franks presented the process to the Board, which would include a monthly meeting of the village association presidents with Director Franks, as a member of the Township Board. The meetings would be open to the public and held at The Woodlands Township, 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. This does not take the place of village associations’ regular reports to the Board of Directors.

The Board also received a report regarding the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), which functions as a Regional Planning Commission for the greater Houston region, most notably as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for mobility and transportation. Federal funding for transportation projects and programs is channeled through the MPO planning process. MPOs ensure that existing and future expenditures of federal governmental funds for transportation projects and programs are based on a continuing, cooperative and comprehensive planning process.  View the H-GAC Presentation.

The Board approved the 2023 Budget Calendar related to the development of the 2024 budget. The budget planning meeting will be held on Friday, May 19, 2023. The budget workshop meetings will be held from August 21 through 25, 2023, which provides the Board with the advantage of knowing the certified property values and no-new-revenue and voter-approval rates while making budget decisions. In addition, the 2023 Board Meeting Calendar is being revised to show the April 20, 2023, Regular Board Meeting being canceled at the Board’s request. 

The Board of Directors also recognized several groups with proclamations in commemoration of their achievements and services to the community. 

  • The Woodlands High School Lady Highlanders Swim and Dive teams were honored for winning the prestigious UIL Class 6A State Championship, their 11th state championship since 1989.  View the proclamation.
  • The Woodlands Kiwanis club, which focuses on improving the world, one child and one community at a time, was recognized for their upcoming Special Olympics taking place on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The Special Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability.  View the proclamation.
     
  • The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department will host the 12th annual Earth Day GreenUp on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The Woodlands Township encourages residents, businesses, schools and institutions to participate in Earth Day GreenUp, committing to a beautiful community, a healthy environment and a sustainable future. The Board also named April 2023 as Earth Month in The Woodlands.  View the proclamation.
The Woodlands High School Lady Highlanders Swim and Dive teams were honored for winning
the prestigious UIL Class 6A State Championship at The Woodlands Township Board of Directors
Meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2023. From left, Secretary Linda Nelson, Assistant Coach Marty
Miller, Assistant Coach Katie Thom, Head Coach Jeremy Wade, Zoe Nordmann, Emma Guglielmello,
Chloe Corbin, Mary Nordmann, Abby Pope, Vice Chairman Kyle Watson, Chairman Dr. Ann K.
Snyder, Caroline Frazier, Evlin Riederer, Jocelyn Bizic, Sophia Crystal, Brooke Miller, Whittier
Molloy, Director Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Treasurer Richard Franks and Director Brad Bailey
Photo Credit: The Woodlands Township; The Woodlands High School Lady Highlanders Swim and Dive teams were honored for winning the prestigious UIL Class 6A State Championship at The Woodlands Township Board of Directors Meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2023. From left, Secretary Linda Nelson, Assistant Coach Marty Miller, Assistant Coach Katie Thom, Head Coach Jeremy Wade, Zoe Nordmann, Emma Guglielmello, Chloe Corbin, Mary Nordmann, Abby Pope, Vice Chairman Kyle Watson, Chairman Dr. Ann K. Snyder, Caroline Frazier, Evlin Riederer, Jocelyn Bizic, Sophia Crystal, Brooke Miller, Whittier Molloy, Director Dr. Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, Treasurer Richard Franks and Director Brad Bailey.
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors honored The Woodlands Kiwanis Club for their
upcoming Special Olympics taking place on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Photo Credit: The Woodlands Township; The Woodlands Township Board of Directors honored The Woodlands Kiwanis Club for their upcoming Special Olympics taking place on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
The Woodlands Township Board of Directors recognized The Woodlands Township Environmental
Services Department, which will host the 12th annual Earth Day GreenUp on Saturday, March 25,
2023.
Photo Credit: The Woodlands Township; The Woodlands Township Board of Directors recognized The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department, which will host the 12th annual Earth Day GreenUp on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
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On the Consent Agenda, which consists of routine housekeeping items that do not require Board discussion, the Board received reports from Community Services and The Woodlands Fire Department, approved the purchase of protective gear for new firefighters, adopted Investment Policies and Guides for The Woodlands Township, approved the purchase of facility generators, approved the annual computer replacement purchase, approved the purchase of audio/video systems and video conference systems, and approved the bid for the 2023-2023 Parks Fall Surfacing Installation.

The Board recessed to Executive Session and, upon reconvening, took no action.

Members of the public were able to address the Board at the start of the meeting.

The Woodlands Township Board Meetings may be attended in person, watched live online, or viewed later via recording at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/meetingvideos. The agenda and attachments may be viewed at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/991/Agendas-Minutes-and-More.  

Source: The Woodland Township

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